Scarlet Letter Essay

979 words - 4 pages

Evan Mowrer Per. 3 Jr. English Scarlet Letter Jan.10, 1999 Word count 894 Arthur Dimmesdale, the principal character in Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is a troubled individual, for in him rests the central conflict of the book. On the one hand, he is moved by his heart his love for freedom and his passion for Hester Prynne. On the other hand, he is ruled by his head, his knowledge of Puritanism and its denial of all fleshly love. He has committed sin of adultery but is unable to see divine forgiveness, believing as puritans did that that there was no grace for the sinner. His dilemma his struggle to cope with sin, is clearly evidenced in the three scaffold scenes depicted in the ...view middle of the document...

" (pg.80) Where she stands being humiliated, while Arthur Dimmesdale looks on watching her being humiliated but still will not admit to his sinful act. The twelfth chapter is about the second scaffold scene where that Arthur Dimmesdale decides to go out at midnight and stand on the scaffold and admit his sin. "The minister might stand there, if so pleased him, until morning should redden in the east." (pg.167) To his surprise, there's nobody there to find him. Except Hester and Pearl who he asked to step up onto the scaffold with him so they can all be together. But they refused and ask him to come and stand with them the next day but he refused. "And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiration, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his breast, right over his heart." (pg.168) Later that night Roger Chillingsworth comes to find him and takes him home to heal him, yet secretly kill him. "Poor, miserable man! What right had infirmity like his to burden itself with crime? Crime is for the iron-nerved, who have their choice either to endure it, or, if it press too hard, to exert their fierce and savage strength for a good purpose." (pg.168) That day Hester and Pearl are marched through the market place to stand on the scaffold once again and again asked to tell who Pearls father was, but once again Hester refused. This scaffold scene isn't the same as the first because the towns people don't make as big of deal about it because it's old...

Other Papers Like Scarlet Letter

568 words - 3 pages
The Values of Changing Society: The Scarlet Letter Unmarried women that got pregnant in the day of the Hester Prynne, the main character of the Scarlet Letter, suffered many more prejudices and punishments than women in the same situation today. The penance Hester was forced to pay for the sin of adultery was incredibly harsh, though many of her peers believed it was not a worthy punishment. In today¹s society, women that have premarital

838 words - 4 pages
For Every Action There is a Reaction: the Affects of Sin in The Scarlet Letter
According to Webster¡¯s Collegiate Dictionary, sin is defined as an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible. The average person would agree that it is only in human nature to sin. Therefore the severity of such transgressions is diluted with that simple justification. However, the less frequently discussed and oftentimes the more important issue is

4546 words - 19 pages
The Scarlet Letter Study Guide
Published in 1850, The Scarlet Letter is considered Nathaniel Hawthorne's most famous novel--and the first quintessentially American novel in style, theme, and language. Set in seventeenth-century Puritan Massachusetts, the novel centers around the travails of Hester Prynne, who gives birth to a daughter Pearl after an adulterous affair. Hawthorne's novel is concerned with the effects of the affair rather than the

2127 words - 9 pages
PAGE
Shadow of Sin"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 23:13 NIV). Throughout The Scarlet Letter, the effects of sin on the physical and emotional part of the body are visible. This story deals with many themes, the most powerful being sin. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Pearl experience to show the effect of sin in The Scarlet

1182 words - 5 pages
Hunter Lindblade
Mrs. Byrne
English 11 Honors
1 November 2013
Role of Secret Sin in The Scarlet Letter
In many of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novels, secret sin plays a large role throughout the stories. Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter”, contains the theme of secret sin which plays a very important role in the story of the novel. Secret sin in the novel “The Scarlet Letter” plays an important role because it both physically and emotionally

685 words - 3 pages
Hester’s Dynamic Personality
In the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne undergoes both physical and emotional revelations. Hester is directly affected by the consequences of breaking moral and social codes of behavior. The novel is a story of a young woman who commits adultery, and has a child. She stays strong when the community harasses her by not revealing the identity of her daughter Pearl's

977 words - 4 pages
Hypocrisy leads to the corruption of a scruple of institutions, like poison leads to the withering of beings. Throughout The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the theme of hypocrisy is evident in the prominent characters. Two main characters, Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale are hypocritical due to the fact that they are not performing their duties the way they ought to be. Roger Chillingworth is the town doctor but he does not

753 words - 4 pages
In classical literature, there are numerous techniques one may use in order to establish a novel that will be read for many generations. The plot itself should, of course, contain some kind of moral or situation that can be recognized and appreciated worldwide and for all time. Along with this moral, however, the novel itself must be presented in such a way that the reader can connect through reading. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne

963 words - 4 pages
Scarlet Letter Literary Criticism
All great stories have thorough reports from several different literary critics, what do they have to say on The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter in the nineteenth century is comparable to early twentieth century and late twentieth century criticism.
Early nineteenth century critics think the story was a tremendous work of art. A “Review of New

577 words - 3 pages
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is about Hester Prynne, a woman who bears an illegitimate child. Though set in Puritan community centuries ago, the moral dilemmas of personal responsibility and consuming emotions of guilt, anger, loyalty and revenge are timeless.
The book begins with an essay titled “The Custom House” about the history of Hawthorne but it serves as nothing more than a

1261 words - 6 pages
One of the most prominent themes found throughout the Scarlet Letter, is that of alienation. Before the plot of the novel even begins, we learn that Hester Prynne has been alienated by her husband, Roger Chillingworth, who has sent her off to live on her own in the new world. Although Chillingworth mentions that he will later rejoin Hester in the new world, it takes much longer than expected, and it is assumed that he has been lost at sea

Related Essays

544 words - 3 pages
Hester PrynneHester Prynne is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter. When Hester was first presented in the novel, she was already attached to a scandal that was symbolized through the scarlet letter "A". Over the course of The Scarlet Letter, Hester helps the poor, needy, and sick, which portrays her selflessness. Hester also is a loving person, which is shown through Hester and her daughter Pearl's relationship. Hester's strength in character

805 words - 4 pages
Richard Regulski
Professor Colleen Field
English 112
February 19, 2013
The Scarlet Letter
Symbolism generally is the use of objects, people, or words to add deeper meaning to a story. Symbolism can also represent an underlying message that the story is trying to get across. When you think of "The Scarlet Letter" you automatically think of the letter "A" forced to be worn by Hester Pryne the adulterer, but it goes much deeper than that

1053 words - 5 pages
AnnaLeis Dibert
Mrs. Eron
English 2330
April 9, 2014
Each Sin Letter
Humans are naturally sinful. With that being said, just because every human being knows he or she is sinful does not mean the entire human race needs to know of our sins; however, in “The Scarlet Letter” the reader learns the importance of his or her sin coming forth in ways they did not expect. The letter represents the ways our sins come forth in the world. Reverend

473 words - 2 pages
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Depression in the Novel
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s great grandfather, John Hathorne, was one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials. When Hawthorne was 4, his father died. This left Hawthorne being the only son, and man of his family. Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody in 1842. It was Sophia that encouraged Hawthorne to write